Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-03-25

tpNtiN III buJ Us SitcNCN "tiV S''7'
IN with Cambridge blue ribbons that were
evid ntlv new, and its waist was encircled
hv a Tread sash of the same material and
tint. Altogether it was just such child as
lie wa, &C asonallv Gale! up N to admire N
the houses of his married brother offic rs;
vet that any lady in the regiment would
lend her baby for a whole night To a set of
larum scarum young fellows for the purpose
cf playing a trick on a brother officer was
manifesily abS,lr' AMI t~siies that, Boobies
was so good-na;ured and such favorite
with the ladies' of the regiment that he
thought he knew all their babies by sight,
AMI he became afraid that this one was in
deed little stranger in the land, welcome
or unwelcome
Yet ii it was the fellows doing. where had
they got it! And if it was not the fellows
doing, why should any one leave a baby
asleep in his cot! The whole thing was in
applicable.
Just tnen the child, in playing with
his chain, slipped little on the smooth
cloth of his overalls and BOTTLES, with a
"Whoal whoa my lad! hauled it up again.
In doing SO he felt piece Of paper rustic
somewhere about the embroidered skirt.
"A note. This grows melodramatic," said
Bottles, craning his neck to find it. "Oh,
here we are! Now we shall see"
The no was written in a firm, large,
yet thoroughly feminine hand, and ran
thus:
''You will not absolve me from my oath
Of secrecy resrectin~ our marriage, though
now that have offended you. l NAV starve
or go to the workhouse. cannot break my
oath, though you have broken all yours but
I Jo< hot ,b. rl,l,.
your child. am going to leave her tonight
IN your rooms with her clothes. By mid
night shall be out of the country l do
his because have obtained a good situa-
ton, and because when reach my destina-
ton shall have spent my last shilling
give you fair warning, however, that if you
desert the child, or fail to acknowledge her.
will break my oath and proclaim our mar
mage. If you engage a nurse she will not
lie much trouble. She is a good and sweet
tempered child, and have called her Mary,
after your dear mother. Oh, how she would
pity me if she could see me nowI Fare
well"
From that moment Boobies absolved 1.-The
fellows" from any share in the affair; but
what to do with the child he had not the
least idea.
1T is the very devil" he said alou l,
watching the busy fingers still playing with
his chain.
He gathered it awkwardly in his arms,
and rose to look for the clothing spoken of
in the letter Yes, there it was. a parcel Of
goodly siz,, wrapped in a stout brown paper
cover, and on the chair beside his cot lay the
outdoor garments Of a young child-a
white coat bordered with fur, a fur trimmed
kh-v. i'll,
did not quite understand the use Of; white
wool fingerless gloves lat least he did not
know what else they could beg, and some
ings without feet.
'tMother means it to stop; / don't know
what to do" he said helplessly.
1t occurred to him then that perhaps
some OF the fellows fright be able to make a
suggestion. He did not know what to do
with the child for the night, nor, for the
matter of that, what to do with it for the
moment. He had the sense not to take it
out into the chill midnight air, and when he
attempted to put it back into the cot it re
telled clinging to his watch-chain with
might AMI main.
"Well, have it them" he said, slipping it
off.
The baby, pleased with the glittering toy
set up cry of delight, and Bottles took the
opportunity Of slipping out He entered
the ante-room with q very rueful face. finl-
ing it pretty much as he had left it. Lacy
was tie firsS to catch sight of him.
Hello, Bottles, what's the mat-tahp lie
asked is your head worse!'
"My head. Oh, forgot all about it,"
Bootle' replied. "But, I say, I'm in mes.
There's Lady in my room"
"a what" they cried, with one voice.
IA baby" repeated Bottles, dismally.
"Al-ives' asked Lacy, with his head on
one side.
alive. Oh, very, very much so, and
means to stop, for it has brought its entire
wardrobe and letter of introduction with
it, holding the letter for any one to take
who chose. 1t was Lacy who did so, AMI be
asked if he should read it up
Yes, do" said Bottles, dropping into u
chair with a groan. Perhaps some one els,
will own to it"
So Lacy read the letter in his ridiculous
drawl of a voice, aud ceased amid profound
e-'Fa-ah-welll"
"Wellf' said Bottles, finding no one
seemed inclined to speak. "WellP'
WELL" said Preston, solemnly, 'if Won
want my opinion, Boobies, think You ought
to he ashamed of yourself"
A general laugh followed, but Bottles
protested.
"Oh, don't imagine it's me. I've nothin,
to do with it. I shouldn't have como to you
fellows if had"
mo, no. Of course not" returned Nile,
promptly, but with an air which raised
another shout.
"Then it's plant" announced Preston, In
tone Ct conviction.
OF course it's a plant" criel Boctle
''but why in the wide world should it l.,
planted on meF'
"Whv, indeedr' echoed Miles, feelingly.
''Besides," Bottles continued, ''some G..
you know my mother. and that her nai.r
was not MARI but Margara.."
Now, as several OF those present. ruu
known Lady Margaret Ferrers very we'll.
that was q strong point in favor of Preston's
assertion that the affair was a plant The
chief question, however, was what could he
done with the little stranger for thai night.
Some woman. of course, must look after it,
but who? It was then after o'clock,
and the lights had been out hours ago in the
married peoples quarters Bottles did not
know what to do, and said so.
us it in your room nowr Preston askel
Eyes"
where did you find It'll"
TN my cot"
1.-THE devil You didl Iwonder you weren't
frightened out Of your very wits"
Il nearly was" BOTTLES admitted.
did you sea it atonce? Was it howling7'
'Howlingl Not bit Of it. Never saw q
jollier little beggar in all my life"
"Ohl" calculated Miles, blankly. 81 say,
you fellows, don't that sound to you very
much like the proud pap-ahg'
"You fellows all laughed at this, even
perplexed BOTTLES, and Hartog asked ques-
ton.
did you see it directly, BootlesT'
"Oh, no; not for half an hour or more"
what on earth did you DOR
"Why, looked at it, Of course. What
would you have donel'
did you touch it?'
Bottles laughed. Eyes, by Jove, the little
beggar came to me like bird.n
Great gods!" uttered Miles, land you
can doubt the fatherliness Of thatr'
"Oh, what an ass you areI' returned Har-
tog; then, as if by bright inspiration, sug-
gested, "Isay, lets 60 and have look at it